Volume One, Chapter 13: Doesn’t This Hurt You?

Lu Miao quickly composed herself. She double-locked the door—no one could get in now. Very few people knew her home’s security code. At this hour, could it be a friend of her uncle’s returning? Yet, she still felt uneasy and got out of bed to check.

When she opened the door, she saw that the main entrance was also wide open. A drenched stranger stood at her doorstep, an ominous grin plastered across his face as he stared at her.

Suddenly, lightning flashed and thunder roared outside.

“Ah!!!” Lu Miao let out an uncontrollable scream.

The man gripped a knife and charged at her swiftly.

Goosebumps rose all over Lu Miao’s body. She retreated to her room as fast as she could, and just before the knife swung towards her, she slammed the door shut with all her might.

“Shhhh!” The blade embedded itself into the door panel.

The man twisted the doorknob and, finding it locked, sneered with a twisted smile. “Wait here. I’m coming in to finish you off.”

He started prying the lock while kicking the door fiercely.

Panicked, Lu Miao dashed to the bedside table to grab her phone. The sound of the door being kicked terrified her so much she almost dropped it.

Without hesitation, she dialed Fu Shiyue.

The call connected quickly.

“Somebody’s broken into my house!” she stammered frantically, her voice trembling as the lock was being forced. “What do I do? He’s got a knife! He’s about to break down my door!”

A calm male voice came through the phone, soothing yet resolute: “Don’t be afraid. I’m on my way.”

Lu Miao barely had time to process his words before Fu Shiyue appeared at the main door, his expression dark and unyielding. “Cover your ears inside the room.”

She froze for a moment, instinctively glancing toward her door.

The sound of kicking stopped abruptly, followed by a dull thud.

Something had crashed against the door.

Outside, Fu Shiyue’s iron grip held the man’s neck tightly, pinning him against the door.

The knife-wielding hand was also immobilized by a powerful arm. The man could hardly move, his mouth opening and closing silently.

“Uh... you...” he tried to speak, but Fu Shiyue snapped his jaw shut with a sharp crack.

The man’s eyes widened in terror, blood trickling down from the corner of his mouth.

Fu Shiyue delivered a fierce kick to the man’s abdomen, robbing him of any strength. He slid down to his knees slowly, defeated.

Lu Miao didn’t even have time to cover her ears. After a few agonized screams, the corridor beyond her door fell into deadly silence.

What had just happened?

Stunned, Lu Miao hurriedly got up and cracked the door open.

Fu Shiyue stood just a few steps away, his sharp gaze icy under the cold light, outlining the ruthless aura that clung to him.

At his feet lay the man, barely clinging to life.

Lu Miao took a step back, frightened.

Fu Shiyue glanced up, seeing the disheveled young girl inside, panic evident in her eyes.

His gaze darkened like frozen ice, suppressing the tension in the air. “It’s over. Don’t be afraid.”

Leaning against the doorframe, Lu Miao’s eyes were red-rimmed as she looked at him hoarsely. “Y-you’re back.”

Hearing those words softened Fu Shiyue’s heart. He stepped forward, lowering his gaze to meet hers. “Sorry for being late. Are you hurt?”

She shook her head and glanced at the man on the floor.

Fu Shiyue frowned slightly and moved to block her view. “Go back inside. I’ll handle this. Don’t come out until I call you.”

Lu Miao understood and quietly closed the door.

The man still had a faint pulse. Fu Shiyue promptly called the police.

Officers arrived swiftly. Upon learning Fu Shiyue’s identity, they respectfully offered him a cigarette. “Please call the victim. We’ll take a brief statement.”

Fu Shiyue waved them off. “She’s still shaken. Once she calms down, I’ll bring her in for questioning.”

As the officers prepared to respond, a soft noise caught their attention. They looked up to see a door crack open behind Fu Shiyue, revealing a girl hiding inside. When she noticed them looking, she quickly withdrew.

The police understood the situation and respectfully withdrew their gaze. “Understood, sir. We’ll leave it to you, then.”

They packed up their notes and prepared to leave.

Fu Shiyue accompanied them to the door. “I hope you can resolve tonight’s incident quickly.”

“Rest assured. We’ve taken the suspect for interrogation. You’ll have an answer within two days.”

After bidding them farewell and closing the door, Fu Shiyue noticed a shadow lingering by Lu Miao’s bedroom door.

“That’s enough. Come out now.”

Lu Miao hesitated before stepping out, then suddenly froze.

She saw a splatter of blood on the floor, her face draining of color. “This blood is...”

Fu Shiyue, surprised that someone usually so fearless was shaken by the sight, replied, “It’s from that man just now.”

Lu Miao was about to breathe a sigh of relief, but a terrifying image flashed through her mind.

She stood rooted to the spot, a chill running down her spine.

When the man broke into her home earlier, similar dreadful visions had sprung into her mind.

Lu Miao often had nightmares filled with horrifying scenes, which she usually forgot upon waking. Yet tonight, she kept recalling those images.

Seeing her stare blankly at the blood, Fu Shiyue realized she was likely remembering something.

His heart tightened, and he quickly approached her. “Sit on the sofa. I’ll clean this up.”

Before she could respond, he gently guided her to the sofa and pressed her down by the shoulders.

Lu Miao instinctively tried to turn her head, but his large hand covered her chin firmly.

“Don’t look.”

She raised her eyes to meet his serious gaze, startled. “Why?”

Lu Yan had specifically warned him not to trigger her memories of the past.

Fu Shiyue’s eyes darkened slightly as he spoke softly. “Girls shouldn’t be exposed to such gruesome sights.”

He picked up a blanket from the sofa and wrapped her slender frame in it, gently stroking her hair. “Stay here. I’ll take care of it.”

Lu Miao bit her lip but said nothing.

Fu Shiyue stood, wiping sweat from his brow. Not wanting to soil the sofa with his damp clothes, he slipped off his coat and, without a second thought, tossed it into the trash bin.

Lu Miao’s eyes widened slightly. “Why did you throw it away?”

He rolled up his sleeves by the sofa. “It’s dirty.”

Though the blood stains weren’t visible, Fu Shiyue could smell the metallic scent of blood on his black coat.

Even he disliked the smell—it would be unbearable for a young girl.

Lu Miao glanced at the trash bin and noticed the coat’s label peeking out—it was from a high-end Italian designer.

This man was strange—he wouldn’t wash such an expensive coat, yet he didn’t hesitate to mop her floor.

Feeling somewhat calmer, Lu Miao studied him and asked, “Where did you come back from?”

“From the neighboring city.”

Lu Miao pointed at his pants, now speckled with mud. “Does the neighboring city have this much mud?”

Fu Shiyue looked down and noticed the muddy spots. He had been in a hurry and hadn’t even noticed.

The atmosphere grew a bit awkward. She asked, “Do you want to take a shower?”